Kansas State University

The fight against cancer starts in the laboratory. From nanoparticles, stem cells and viruses to antioxidants, exercise and immuno- and targeted therapies, researchers in nearly one hundred Kansas State University laboratories are conducting the basic and translational cancer research that leads to improved prevention, diagnostics and treatments, as well as training future scientists.

The Johnson Cancer Research Center directs your gifts to K-State’s most promising cancer research projects and budding student scientists. Our faculty researchers leverage our “seed” awards to win larger national funding, and our students become top scientists and doctors. Thanks for your support! Learn more about helping K-State fight cancer.

Read on to learn more about our research, achievements and activities.

Subscribe to our e-newsletter by emailing cancerresearch@k-state.edu.
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Send us your stories and photos related to K-State cancer research.

Pink & Purple Polyester Party
Fri., April 22, 2016 ~ 7 p.m.
#PolyesterParty

Make reservations now for the grooviest party of the year! The Pink & Purple Polyester Party, presented by CivicPlus, will be at 7 p.m., April 22, at the K-State Alumni Center.

Dress like the 60s, 70s or 80s and shake your booty with Disco Dick & the Mirrorballs of Kansas City! Vote for your favorite blinged-out bra and enjoy catered treats, libations and a fun photo booth! Best costume wins $100! ‘Like’ the Pink & Purple Polyester Party Facebook page for updates.

Last year’s party raised $13,120! We thank CivicPlus, Briggs Auto Group, Kansas State Federal Credit Union and other sponsors (listed on webpage), as well as the planning committee, volunteers and party-goers! Learn about being sponsoring the 2016 party!

Walk Kansas 5K for the Fight
Sat., May 7, 2016 ~ 10 a.m.

The acclaimed statewide fitness motivation program, Walk Kansas, will hold its first 5K run/walk May 7 and donate proceeds to our center! Walk Kansas 5K for the Fight is open to all, not just Walk Kansas participants. A 1.5-mile fun walk will also be offered.

We’re so excited about this perfect partnership! Exercise reduces cancer risk. Watch our website and Facebook/Twitter for details.

ALL UPCOMING EVENTS

Cancer Fighters’ 50/50 Fundraiser Raffle – Feb. 8-11. Chances are $2/ticket or $5/3 tickets. Winner gets half the pot! JCRC gets the other half.

Buffalo Wild Wings Fundraiser – April 4, 11 a.m.-midnight, Aggieville

Cancer Research Awards Banquet – Fri., April 8

JCRC Advisory Council Meeting – Sat., April 9

K-State Open House – Sat., April 16

Pink & Purple Polyester Party – Fri., April 22, 7-11:30 p.m., K-State Alumni Center

Walk Kansas 5K For the Fight – Sat., May 7, 10 a.m., Manhattan campus

Tough Enough to Wear Pink Spaghetti Dinner – Sun., July 10 (tentative)

Tough Enough to Wear Pink Rodeo – Fri., July 22, 8 p.m., Wells Arena in CiCo Park, Manhattan, Kan.

K-State Fighting for a Cure Shirt Day – Sat., Oct. 8

More info about events

CLINICAL TRIALS UNDERWAY IN COLLEGE OF VETERINARY MEDICINE

Clinical trials help healthcare professionals, including veterinarians, human doctors, pharmacists and others, evaluate new treatments and diagnostic tests for various diseases, including cancer. These new treatments and tests are designed to improve the detection, prevention and treatment of the disease. Among K-State’s current clinical trials is a study by  Rae Wouda, clincial sciences, of an anti-cancer vaccine (MediVet Biologics K9-ACV) for dogs. Learn more.

FACULTY ACHIEVEMENTS

S. Keith Chapes, biology, Tonatiuh Melgarejo, human nutrition, and team have created a cell line that can be used in studies aimed at understanding obesity and other diseases in humans. Their study was published in the online journal Cytotechnology and a commercial licensing agreement has been signed. Read more.

Thomas Mueller, biology, and team published the article, “A 3D Searchable Database of Transgenic Zebrafish Gal4 and Cre Lines for Functional Neuroanatomy Studies,” in Frontiers in Neural Circuits journal. Their work has led to a library of enhancer trap lines that provides genetic access to 70% of the larval brain and is therefore a powerful and broadly accessible tool for the dissection of neural circuits in larval zebrafish. Read more.

Mei He, biological & agricultural engineering, published the article, “A Microfluidic ExoSearch Chip for Multiplexed Exosome Detection Towards Blood-Based Ovarian Cancer Diagnosis,” in Lab on a Chip journal. Read more.

Xiuzhi “Susan” Sun, grain science & industry and biological & agricultural engineering, showed her patented PepGel to more than 22,500 visitors at the annual Smithsonian Innovation Festival in Washington, D.C. T. Annelise Nguyen, diagnostic medicine/pathobiology, discussed cancer applications of the groundbreaking biomaterial. Read more. View video about PepGel.

Bruce Schultz, anatomy & physiology, wrote the lead chapter of a new book on the function of epithelial cells titled “Ion Channels and Transporters of Epithelia in Health and Disease.” Read more.

Ric Rosenkranz‘s team in food, nutrition, dietetics & health (formerly human nutrition) is offering a wellness program for local girls ages 8 to 13 years old. Wellness in youth decreases cancer risk later in life. View flier.

Multiple faculty researchers received awards from the Johnson Cancer Research Center last fall. Read more.

STUDENT ACHIEVEMENTS

Tuyen Nguyen, doctoral student in chemistry, won first place poster presentation at the K-State Graduate Research Forum. She and nine other K-State graduate students  represented K-State at the Capitol Graduate Research Summit in Topeka Feb. 2. Her mentor is Santosh Aryal, chemistry.

Adam Schieferecke, junior in microbiology and biochemistry, will present his research at Undergraduate Research Day at the Capitol. He is one of six K-Staters among 40 students statewide selected to present. His faculty mentor is Stefan Rothenburg, biology. Read more.

Multiple undergraduate and graduate students received awards from the Johnson Cancer Research Center last fall. Read more.

NEW CANCER RESEARCH FACULTY

Joining us in 2015 and late 2014 were:
Santosh Aryal, chemistry
Brad Behnke, kinesiology
Jeffrey Comer, anatomy & physiology
Jooyoun Kim, apparel, textiles & interior design
Annika Linde, human nutrition
Jocelyn McDonald, biology
Saurav Misra, biochemistry & molecular biophysics
Chingakham Ranjit Singh, biology
Nicholas Wallace, biology
Raelene Wouda, clinical sciences
Anna Zinovyeva, biology

K-State Fighting for a Cure Day

Six hundred people got K-State Fighting for a Cure shirts in 2015! That’s another $4,335 for K-State cancer research, bringing the total to almost $20,000!

Oct. 17, Wildcats wore the shirts to the home football game and elsewhere in celebration of K-State Fighting for a Cure Day. First lady of K-State Football Sharon Snyder, university president and first lady Drs. Kirk and Noel Schulz, and many other friends showed their pride by wearing their shirts.

You can see photos of our shirt campaign supporters on Facebook, including former Wildcats and Chiefs football player Kevin Lockett, vice president for student life Dr. Pat Bosco (pictured) and director of bands Dr. Frank Tracz.

A big highlight of the day was when the K-State Marching Band, decorated in pink ribbons, formed the words “BEAT CANCER” during their halftime performance (pictured above)! We also enjoyed hosting our annual tailgate party in Cat Town.

We’re so grateful to N Zone and Varney’s for helping us sell shirts, to our media partners for promoting, and to many others who supported the effort!

The 2016 Fighting for a Cure Day will be Oct. 8. Watch for a new shirt design!

Pink Power Luncheon

Our 6th annual Pink Power Luncheon for breast cancer awareness was Oct. 2 and bigger than ever. About 180 guests were treated to lunch and the moving presentation, “Not Your Grandmother’s Mastectomy: Journey of a ‘Previvor’,” by Jacque Groves, a local nurse who chose to have a prophylactic (preventive) mastectomy after learning through genetic counseling that she had a high risk of developing breast cancer. We thank Komen Kansas for supporting this event. View photos on Facebook.

Regier Memorial Golf Tournament

The 18th annual Rob Regier Memorial Golf Tournament was held Oct. 16 and raised $14,386! We thank and applaud Les and Sandy Regier for all their hard work and success on this longtime fundraiser! Prize winners and sponsors are listed on the tournament webpage, and we’ve shared photos on Facebook. Special thanks to Premier Sponsor Grand Mère Development!

Sunny 102.5 FM Raises the Roof

Once again, Sunny 102.5 FM and Oldies 98.5 FM asked their listeners to ‘Raise the Roof’ for K-State cancer research Sept. 18 as part of their and Coach Snyder’s annual Wildcat Challenge to Tackle Cancer. They took donations and auction bids all day while broadcasting live from the rooftops of McDonald’s in Manhattan, and raised $8,146! We thank Sunny and McDonald’s for their continued generous partnership!